Queensland's space industry could generate more than $1 billion: Deloitte

Talking points

There is now around 2000 space 'jobs', mainly in satellite technology and remote sensing in individual firms.

Our defence industry is not sopphisticated anmd connected enough yet to support a 'space industry'.

Queensland's space industry could employ 4000-plus people and be worth more than $1 billion within 20 years, according to "conservative" estimates in a new report.

But there are major obstacles to the industry rapidly scaling up to meet global demand, including a defence economy not yet sophisticated enough and a lack of “critical mass” in the local supply chain, the Deloitte Access Economics report finds.

The space simulator at the Australian National University's Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre at at Canberra's Mt Stromlo. Queensland hopes to replicate space industry growth in southern capitals. Credit:Karleen Minney

Three separate estimates show between 4000 and 6000 full-time people could be employed in the Queensland space industry, generating between $1.1 billion and $1.7 billion, if changes are made “upstream” to Queensland’s defence industries.

The report, Sky is Not the Limit: Building Queensland’s Space Economy, finds Queensland authorities need to develop a “critical mass” of space industries.

“The small scale of the Queensland industry means that there is not currently sufficient critical mass in many upstream and downstream industries in the local supply chain to ensure that the space economy in Queensland works as a coordinated local market,” it finds.

“For the Queensland space economy to rapidly scale up to meet global demand, greater depth and key anchor points are required in the supply chain.

“Queensland needs to support growth in existing capabilities, build out capacity in adjacent areas to current strengths, improve connections within the existing supply chain, leverage untapped local demand from other industries – for example agriculture - and continue to invest in the early stages of research and development.”

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cambridge experiences a flight in the F/A18-F Super Hornet simulator at RAAF Base Amberley.Credit:CPL David Said

Earlier this month another research paper reported a similar scope for Queensland’s still fledgling space industry.

Mr Dick said Deloitte’s broad modelling suggested the space industry in Queensland “could generate” between 4000 and 6000 jobs over the next two decades.

“In order to capitalise on these opportunities, the Palaszczuk government will explore how we can further assist companies and universities and coordinate opportunities to grow our space industry," he said.

The Queensland government in June 2018 released a 10-year strategy to begin to put in place a more strategic space industry.

That identified maximising opportunities at Australia's largest defence airbase.

“The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley, with its 70 aircraft, six fleets and more than 5800 personnel, the June 2018 roadmap said.

“The redevelopment of the Amberley base will see this number grow to more than 7000 military and civilian personnel by 2020.”

The report notes few Queenslanders – outside of defence circles – understand south-east Queensland is home to many defence industries.

“Queensland has developed a growing presence in the aerospace industry. This includes Virgin Australia’s headquarters and a significant presence by half of the world’s top 10 aerospace companies in Queensland, such as Boeing Defence Australia, Airbus, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon," it states.